Packing retainer



Jan. 25, EQQQQ c, EY 2,460,031

7 PACKING RETAINER Filed April 26, 1944 r5 Sheets-Sheet 1 f W T ii? F1; m

Jan. 25, 1949. 0. IT. RIPLEY 2,469,031.

PACKING RETAINER Filed April 26, 1944 e Sheets-Shet 2 l I :67 66 l i l Z7 70 aaa%f@ m; $1M. 2M 9 MW] C. T. RIPLEY PACKING RETAINER V Jan. 25, 1949.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fild April 26, 1944.

Jan. 25, 1949.

c. T. RIPL EY PACKING RETAINER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 26,

mam/zen Jan. 25, 1949. c.1'. mm? 2,460,031

PACKING RETAINER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 26, 1944 v f/ v 70 62 e4 Jan. 25, 1949. T, RIPLEY 2,460,631

' PACKING RETAINER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 26, 1944 Patented Jan. 25, 1949 PACKING nn'ramna Charles '1. Ripley, Chicago, 111., assignor to Spring Packing Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 26, 1944, Serial No. 532,716

way car axle in the journal box and which is adapted to maintain the packing'in its proper position over a long period of time with a minimum amount of attention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved form of packing retainer for railway car journal boxes which is adapted to save time and labor in the servicing of journal boxes so that this time may be concentrated upon those journal boxes which do need repacking or changes in the brass bearings.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved packing retainer which is adapted to be manufactured very cheaply with a minimum amount of machinery and which is adapted to perform its function for a long period of time under the most adverse conditions without necessity for repair or replacement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved packing retainer which does not interfere with the oiling or inspection of the bearing or with the use of a packing iron whenever necessary.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved packing retainer which holds the packing firmly back under the journal all of the time that the car is running and eliminates the possibility of the packing falling away from the journal or the possibility of the grabbing or rolling of the waste.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of an improved packing spring and waste assembly for the journal boxes of railway cars which is adapted to maintain the packing in a firm condition and in proper position and shape so that maintenance of a proper oil supply is practically all the attention that is required for the journal box.

Another object is the provision of an improved packing retainer spring which is adapted to be used upon various types of railway journal boxes and for various types and shapes of packing assemblies.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which simi- 4 Claims. (Cl. 308-89) lar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are six sheets:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, taken through a journal box, on the plane of the line l-l of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing an installation embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of packing retainer and a different form of installation;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on a plane similar to Fig. 1, showing the location of the upper retaining ends of the spring in the modification of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification in which the lower part of the retainer is provided with a plate for increasing the area of contact between the packing and the retainer at this point;

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a modified form of packing retainer;

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the packing retainer of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, utilizing the packing retainer of Fig. 7;

'Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the plane of the line l0ill of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line H-Il of Fi 9;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on a plane corresponding to the line l2|2 of Fig. 10, but showing a further modification in which the retainer of Figs. 9 to 11 is provided with a plate for increasing the area of contact between the retainer and the packing; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12.

The present packing retainer springs are adapted to be used in various types of standard journal boxes for railway cars. a

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, l0 indicates in its entirety one of the journal boxes of a railway car which contains the journal II and which is closed by the usual cover l2. ,The journal II is supported by the bearing I3 located in the top of the Journalbox and bearing i3 is in turn engaged bythe wedge H, the upper side of which engages the top of the journal box.

The journal may extend into the journal box through an aperture on the inside of the journal box, and this aperture is provided with any suitable form of oil seal l6, having a cylindrical aperture l1 for engaging the enlarged cylindrical portion I8 of the journal ll.

The journal box may be provided below the journal II with a suitable packing l9, preferably of the type comprising waste which is mixed with a multiplicity of coil springs 20, and the waste may be arranged in the lower part of the box according to any of the standard practices. For example, that portion engaging the rightwall 2| of the journal box 10 may comprise a portion of waste suitably rolled upon an axis extending transversely to the axis of the journal to serve.

as a backing portion.

The waste located at the extreme other end and indicated by the numeral i9a may also be suitably rolled about a similar axis, 'while that in between may be merely stufied in and arranged in a compact manner to fill the lower part of the journal box up to and engaging the journal ll over the lower part of its periphery,v as

waste in the journal box permits the use of a smaller supply of lubricant so that it is not wasted by sloshing out of the journal box nor by passing out of the end of the journal box. I

The wedges with which the invention is utilized may be of the type shown in Fig. 1, in which there is a centrally located vertical aperture 23 located behind the head 24 of the wedge for receiving the upper ends 25, 25 of the packing retainer. In other embodiments of the invention the upper ends of these springs may be located, as shown at 21, 28 in Fig. 3, at each of the outer corners of the wedge I4 in the spaces 21, 28 located at each side of the wedge 14 at these points. I

One of the preferred embodiments of the packing retainer is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and in Fig. 8, where it is shown separate and apart from the journal and journal box in order that all of its parts maybe seen simultaneously.

The retainer is preferably constructed out of spring steel wire of a suitable size and stiffness to accomplish the results desired. This packing retainer is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 38, and it comprises a central packing engaging portion 3l, which may be arranged to extend at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the horizontal axis of the journal in the embodiment of Fig. l.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, Figs. 7 and 9 to 11, inclusive, the packingengaging portion may extend substantially horizontally for engagement with a suitable supply of packing. the outer surface of which extends in substantially the same direction.

The packing-engaging portion 8| is preferably formed with. a plurality of wavy formations 88 to 91, inclusive, these wavy formations being substantially V-shaped in elevation. with easy bends at the apices of each wave. The waves extend alternately in opposite directions so that the packing-engaging portion 8| is adapted to engage the a packing over a wider area at the. exposed face of the packing in the journal box. In order that the retainer may be firmly secured in the journal box, the location of the apices 83, 85, 81 is preferably such that they are in the line of a circle' apices 93 and 91, need engage the lower wall of the journal box.

Extending upwardly and outwardly from each of the apices 93 and 81, the spring retainer is provided with a pair of diagonal straight wire portions 88, which areof sufficient length to extend like chords across the curved wall of the journal box until they come into engagement with the outer walls of the journal box at the points 81 At 81 each of the wire portions is bent at an obtuse angle and provided with the upwardly extending portions 88 engaging the journal box wall and extending upwardly on it.

At 85 the wire portions are bent at an angle of substantially ninety degrees and provided with the relatively straight rearwardly extending portions 84, which extend horizontally along the wall of the journal box.

The packing retainer is preferably provided with the horizontally extending leg portions, indicated in their entireties by the numeral 31, for the purpose of engaging and holding the top of the packing down on each side of the journal I I.

These horizontal legs each comprise a pair of wire'portions bent back upon each other, and they are preferably so arranged that they also engage the outer side walls of the journal box. These leg portions are similar to each other, and they are preferably so constructed that they extend over a maximum area of the packing on each side of the journal If without coming into contact with the Journal.

These leg portions prevent or substantially eliminate all grabbing of-the waste by the journal,

v and they tend to keep the entire packing compact at all times so that it will have the characteristic of uniform and maximum capillary ac- .tion for drawing up the lubricant for contact with the Journal. v

In order to cover a maximum-horizontal area of the packing, the wire portions are bent inwardly at and at an obtuse angle, and the diagonally inwardly extending portions 68 are of sufficient lengthto locate the longitudinally extending straight portions 88 close to the journal, but without contacting the'journal.

The straight portions 58 extend from the obtuse bend15a to the hairpin bends 88 at each end of the legs 31, and these straight portions 88 are substantially parallel to the journal ll. At the wire of the retainer is bent outwardly and backwardly with an'easy curvature, which keeps the retainer. spaced substantially uniformly from the fillet of the-journal, and brings the wire over into engagement with the side wall of the journal box at'the point it on each side of the journal box.

The wire extending outwardly from the hairpin bend 68 along the side of the journal box is preferablyprovided with a pluralityof angular bent portions Gl-fl, joined by the obtuse apices 68. The outer apices '88 also engage the side wall of the journal box.

Referring to Fig. 4, the last diagonal portion of the wire in each horizontal leg 31 crosses over the diagonal portion 63 of the other part of each leg, fora purpose further to be described. At 66 the wire is again bent outward, having a straight portion 61 that extends to the side wall of the journal box, where it is bent at 69 and'provided with a straight portion I that extends along the journal box to a point H, which may be located "substantially midway between the end of the journal and the opposite wall of the box. At H ;the wire on each side of the spring retainer is bent upwardly at an obtuse angle and provided with a straight diagonally upwardly and outwardly extending portion 12. At 13 it is again bent obtusely and provided with the upwardly and/inwardly extending straight portions ll and 46. PM 14 the wires on each side of the retainer (Fig. 1) may be provided with another obtuse bend. and the succeeding straight portions Ila extend backwardiy and toward each other to the recessor aperture 23 in the wedge H, where the upwardly extending free ends 26, 26 of the retainer are located and held.

It should be understood that the various parts of; this spring retainer which are exemplified by straight portions and angular bends may in some embodiments of the invention include portions which are curved, provided they are located in substantially the same position and adapted to perform the same functions.

; It should also be understood that before the spring is placed in the journal box the shape and curvature of its parts and the angularity of the bent parts are such that the free ends 26 and 26 are located or spaced farther from the hairpin bends 66 of the horizontal legs 31 by a greater distance so that the retainer is open, and it is only adapted to attain the configuration shown in Fig. 1 in the journal box by bending the free end portions 25, 26 inwardly and backwardly,

which will also force the other parts of the retainer outwardly into'engagement with the walls of the journal box, placing an initial tension on all of the parts of the retainer.

When the free ends 25, 26 of the wire retainer are bent inwardly toward each other, the horizontal portions 31 being spaced from each other, on each side of the journal, it will be apparent that the upwardly extending wire portions 46 and 45 extend diagonally toward each other from the bottom. When the free end portions 25. 26 are then bent backwardly, that is, toward the hairpin bends 60 of Fig. '7, the tendency is for these members to straighten out in the direction or general plane in which the free ends are bent upwardly, that is, in a diagonal plane. Therefore. as the free ends 25, 26 are forced backwardly, the hairpin bends 66 or horizontal portions 31 are forced downwardly and outwardly.

Thus, a considerable pressure is necessary to install the retainer, as shown in Fig. 1; and when the free ends 25, 26 are forced downward and permitted to rise into the recess 23, the horizontal portions 64 and of the legs 31 engage both the other horizontal portions 66 and 16 of these legs and tend to force the lower part of the retainer down into the journal box.

Furthermore, the increased tension which is placed upon the front portions 45, 46 and I2 of the retainer tends to cause the horizontal legs 31 to press downward on the packing which they engage and to press outwardly against the wall of the journal-box. Thus, the spring re- 6 taine'r is in firm engagement with the journal box at some or all of the points 93, 35, 91, and II; and the ends 25, 26 are held in the recess 23.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the portions which 5' correspond to Ila of Fig. '1 have been given the numeral 14b, and they comprise upward extensions of the straight portions 25, 46, which extend up until they engage the top of the Journal box on each side of the wedge ll behind the wedge stop a, where there is suitable space for the ends of these wires.

Thus, the modification of Fig. 3 is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2, except that the ends of the spring retainer are located in a different position. 1

Referring to Figs. 7 and 9 to 11, these figures illustrate another preferred embodiment of the invention in which the packing-engaging portion 3! extends substantially horizontally so that the packing may be brought up to fill the space between the box and the lower end portion of the Journal.

In this embodiment the construction of the spring retainer is substantially the same from the free ends 25, 26 down to the obtu..e bent portions 16 in each of the horizontal legs 31 of the retainer.

From the bends the wire portions 16, which extend forwardly, are straight and substantially parallel to each other andadapted to engage the side wall of the journal box and the horizontal portion 16 of the legs 31 and thereby tend to force the lower part of the retainer down into the journal box and hold the retainer spring in firm engagement with the journal box.

At the point 83. however, the wire portions 16 are bent inwardly toward each other at an obtuse angle, instead of being bent downwardly, as at 85 in Fig. 8.

Thus the embodiment of Fig.7 is provided with a plurality of diagonally extending wire portions ll-82, inclusive, Joined by easyV-shaped bends similar to those previously described; but in this case they may be of uniform size.

These V-shaped bends or wave-like formations extend substantially horizontally, but are preferably downwardly tilted at a slight angle, as shown in Fig. 9. They provide the packing-engaging portion 3l, which holds the packing down in the outer end of the journalbox when the packing is installed as shown in Fig. 9.

This modified form of installation presents the advantage that all of the oil is covered with packing so that there is no possibility of any free oil'existing in a separate depression. thereby eliminating any possibility of the oil sloshing out of the journal box.

This modification, however, does not have the advantage of the installation of Fi 1, where a small'amount of'oil is visible at 22 to indicate to the service men how much oil is in the journal box.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13. these are views showing a modification of the embodiment of Figs. 9 to 11, in which the actual area of contact between the packing retaining portion 3i and the packing has been increased by providing a metal plate I0! of substantially the same shape as the exposed area of the waste which it engages.

. Thus, in Fig. 12 theplate iill is preferab v rectangular 'in shape, and it may be provided with a plurality of punched out tongues l02,'which are so located that they may be bent about the diagonally extending portions oi the wave-like formatipns which are located adjacent the plate.

Theplate is preferably disposed on the lower side of the wire at the packing-engaging portion I! so that the engagement with the packing Referring to Fig. 6, this is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 13. showing the type of spring retainer of Fig. 8 when it is equipped with such a plate. In this case the shape of the plate I is substantially crescent-shaped, having a lower curved surface I03, which may be spaced slightly from the curved lower wall or the journal box, and having an upper curved surface I, which is spaced from the head of the journal.

Here again the plate is provided with appropriately located metaltongues I punched out of the body of the plate and so shaped that they are clamped about the wire portions 89 to 92 to hold the plate in place. By means of these plates the actual area of contact between the packing retainer and the packing is greatly increased, and

- there is a greater certainty that all of the packing will be retained under or behind this wire portion II so that the actual level of lubricant. indicated at 22, will always be more readily visible.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved packing retaining spring, which is positively engaged with the structure of the journal box and with the packing in such manner that there is no danger of the packing mass getting loose or rotating with the journal.

The present packing retainer not only engag the exposed end portion of the packing at the end of'the journal tohold the packing in firm, compact condition under the journal and to prevent it from moving axially, but it also has horizontal portions engaging the free upper surface of the packing on each side of the journal.

The present retainer is adapted to eliminateor practically prevent any grab of waste..and it will prevent the tendency of the waste to rise on the side on which the ioumal is rotating upward so as to maintain the packing in its proper position at all times.

The end portion of the packing is held by this retainer in such position that the actual level of the lubricant can be observed at all times, and much time and labor are saved because the present retainer keeps the packing in its proper condition without any attention, and the only attention that is required for the journal box is to keep it suitably supplied with lubricant. The time available for inspection may be used for inspecting the brass bearings, and other parts of the journal box, and the present packing springs are adapted to last indefinitely.

The retainer does not interfere with th use of a packing iron. should it be found necessary to adjust the packing alongside the journal; and when the journal is suitably supplied with lubricant and packing. the present packing retainer practically assures the proper lubrication of the journal at all times.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. many modidonations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the, precise details set forth. but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent of the United States is:

. 1. A waste retainer, for a waste-packed Journal box provided in the upper front portion thereofelongated wastedepressors adapted to overlie waste in-the spaces between the journal and the side walls of the box, each of said depressors consisting of a substantially straight length of spring wire and a horizontally zigzagged length of spring wire, the rear ends of the straight and zigzagged lengths of wire constituting each depressor being integrally connected by a hairpin bend, the substantially straightwire portion of each depressor being adapted to lie closely adjacent to but out of contact with the cylindrical surface of the journal, the zigzagged wire portion of each depressor being adapted to lie between its associated straight portion and one of the side walls of the box and to bear against said side wall at a plurality of tom of the box, the forward ends of the straight and zigzagged portions of each depressor being so related that downward pressure exerted upon the forward ends of the zigzagged portions of the depressors is imparted to the forward ends of the substantially straight wire portions of the depressors.

2. A waste retainer, for a waste-packed journal box-provided in the upper front portion thereof with abutment means cooperable with the hereinafter-mentioned wire extremities and having side walls substantially paralleling the vertical plane of the axis of the Journal occupying the box, comprising: a pair of horizontally elongated waste depressors adapted to overlie waste in the spaces between the Journal and the vertical side walls of the box, each of said depressors consisting of a substantially straight length of spring wire and a horizontally zigzagged length of spring wire, the rear ends of the straight and zigzagged lengths of wire constituting each depressor being integrallyconnected by a hairpin bend, the substantially straight wire portion of each depressor being adapted to lie closely adjacent to but out o contact with the cylindrical surface of the journal. the zigzasged wire portion of each depressor being adapted to lie between its associated straight portion and one of the vertical side walls of the box and to bear against said side wall at a plurality of spaced-apart points, the forward ends of the zigzagged portions of the depressors having integral extensions which proiect forwardly from the depressors and then upwardly and then rearwardly to present wire extremities engageable with the aforementioned abutment means, the forward ends of the straight wire portions of the depressors having integral extensions which merge as one wire portion zigzagged in one plane to exert upon contiguous waste a pressure tending to move it rearwardly in the box, thejorward ends of the straight and massed portions 0! each depressor being so related that downward pressure exerted upon the forward ends of the ziszassed portions of the depressors is imparted to the forward ends of the substantially straight wire portions of the depressors.

3. A waste retainer, for a waste-packed journal box provided in the upper front portion thereof with abutment means cooperable with the hereinafter-mentioned wire extremities and having side walls substantially paralleling the vertical plane of the axis of the journal occupying the box, comprising: a pair of horizontally elongated waste depressors adapted to overlie waste in the spaces between the journal and the vertical side walls of the box, each of said depressors consisting of a substantially straight length of spring wire and a horizontally zigzagged length of spring wire. the rear ends of the straight and zigzagged lengths of wire constituting each depressor being integrally connected by a hairpin bend, the substantially straight wire portion ofeach depressor being adapted to lie closely adjacent to but out of contact with the cylindrical surface of the journal, the zigzagged wire portion of each depressor being adapted to lie between its associated straight portion and one of the vertical side walls of the box and to bear against said side wall at a plurality of spaced-apart points, the forward ends of the zigzagged portions of the depressors having integral extensions which project forwardly from the depressors and then upwardly and then rearwardly to present wire extremities engageable with the aforementioned abutment means, the forward ends of the straight wire portions of the depressors having integral extensions which merge as one wire portion zigzagged in one plane to exert pressure upon waste lying forwardly of the aforementioned waste depressors, the forward ends of the straight and zigzagged portions of each depressor being so related that downward pressure exerted upon the forward ends of the zigzagged portions of the depressors is imparted to the forward ends of the substantially straight wire portions of the depressors.

4. A waste retainer as specified in claim 3 wherein the zigzagged portion of each depressor twice over-crosses the forward end of the substantially straight portion of that depressor to efiect the relationship whereby downward pressure exerted upon the forward ends of the zigzagged portions of the depressors is imparted to the forward ends of the substantially straight wire portions of the depressors.

CHARLES T. RIPLEY.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,291,733 Berner Jan. 21, 1919 1,303,933 McMullen May 20, 1919 1,416,105 McKee May 16, 1922 r 1,751,837 Moore Mar. 25, 1930 2,141,019 Ripley Dec. 20, 1938 2,191,851 German Feb. 27, 1940 2,218,436 Phillips Oct. 15, 1940 2,357,233 Sohaney et al. Aug. 29, 1944 

